Inquest opens into Cramlington double death tragedy
Jul 29 2010 The Journal
Heartfelt tributes also continued to flood online as mourners used social networking site Facebook to express their grief.
Hundreds had last night joined a memorial group called RIP Kieran Kenny and Chris Harrington.
One tribute from Jennifer Allan read: “RIP boys. Everyone’s thinking why? You will be missed so, so much. My thoughts are with your families. Gone far to soon. Sleep tight.”
Kellie Henderson wrote: “RIP guys. My heart goes out to both of your families. You’re both amazing guys and will be sorely missed by everyone. Gone far too soon.”
Laura Turnbull wrote: “RIP guys, what an utter shock. Thoughts go out to everyone who knew you, two of the nicest guys you could ever meet.”
Over the weekend Mr Kenny changed his own Facebook status from “in a relationship” to “single”. The profile said he had also left his job last month.
Mr Harrington was understood to have returned from holiday within recent weeks. His girlfriend, Mel Hurley, posted on the site details of a requiem service for Mr Kenny which is being organised by his family.
Close to both men, she wrote on her page yesterday: “I have never felt so much pain in my life,” and “I’ll promise to always love you both.”
The two bodies were found by an elderly dog walker at around 9.15am, on Tuesday, behind the town’s Brockwell Medical Centre. Locals said the pensioner needed hospital treatment for shock following the discovery.
Northumbria Police would not confirm whether a suicide pact was part of the investigation.
A spokesman added the men were dead at the scene. Officers cordoned off a footpath leading from the medical centre to a nearby housing estate, but it was later removed.
Christopher and Kieran, who also went by the surname McConaghy, both studied at Cramlington Learning Village, before working in McDonald’s on Westmorland Road together.
Christopher later gained a promotion to a shift manager at the Silverlink branch, North Tyneside, where he worked to save enough cash to go on holiday to Magaluf, Majorca.
Staff at both branches of the fast food outlet were today being offered counselling after the devastating news was broken to them.
Bill Liddy, the McDonald’s franchisee who employed both men, said: “Our thoughts are with both Kieran and Chris’ family and friends. They were well-liked employees and we are shocked and saddened by this tragic news.”
